For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
“Yes, I know a lot about Cynthia, Baldwin’s little sister and the only member of your family that will even talk to you,” I continued. “Then I guess you know why my family disinherited me,” she said looking down. “Hey, no need to look down like that, I’m your friend,” I said, “you got yourself mixed up and spent some time in prison and now your family doesn’t want anything to do with you. So you changed your name to Calanthe Beauchamp and moved to France to start over. And Baldwin kept an eye on you because you were always his favorite little sister. By the way, you have a wonderful brother, I knew I could trust him from the start, even before I knew anything about him. And I trust you also, so let’s continue to work together and get this thing figured out.”
She looked at me. “Thank you Steve,” she said quietly, “but I don’t think I’m much help with this case, I have no idea what’s going on.” “That’s okay,” I said, “I don’t really know what’s going on either, but I want to find out.” We enjoyed our meal and went into the living room to think about things. “First thing I want to do is knock down that wall in the tunnel,” I said, “well, maybe second, we should go and have a talk with Rochelle, the banker, in the morning.” “How do you stay so calm, when these people want to kill us?”, asked Calanthe. Mr. Cat jumps onto her lap. Meow.=It okay, Muffin and I here to take care of you. Calanthe smiles. “Thank you Mr. Cat, and Muffin,” she said, and Muffin went over to her as well. Meow,meow=Oh, she here again now. Muffin pointed with her tail toward the fireplace.
Calanthe looked and went pale again as Linnea stood there looking at us. “Don’t faint this time,” I said to her, “this isn’t really Linnea.” “No, it’s me, Lena, but you don’t really know me since you weren’t here the night I came,” she explained. Calanthe looked at me. “Yes, Lena has been here and there helping out on the case, but in the background, checking on people in town and hiding out here,” I explained to Calanthe, “I didn’t even know she was here at the beginning, but Rossana suggested it, the police have been watching these different people for awhile to find out what they are doing and all about their operations. That’s how I found out your brother is clean.”
Calanthe shook her head, “This is all a bit confusing, but I guess you were not really trusting me at the beginning.” “That’s one problem being a PI, we have to be careful at the start who we trust and what we believe, or we could end up in trouble,” I said, “after all, anyone could be the guilty person. But now I know I can trust you, so Lena can come out in the open again.” We talked about things for awhile and then the ladies went to bed. The cats and I stayed awake a little longer, talking about things. Meow,meow?=Not time to tell everything yet? “No Muffin, not yet, I don’t want any slips right now, too close to the end,” I said. Meow?=You go talk with banker lady in morning? “Yes Mr. Cat, and you two will come with me,” I said, “everyone else around here has bodyguards, so I think it’s a good idea for me also.”
“Just make sure you’re careful Steve, Rochelle, I think, could be dangerous, so you need to watch.” “Oh, I plan to be careful, that’s why I want the cats with me,” I said. Meow,meow?=It safe for human Calanthe and human Lena to be here alone? “Yes Muffin, they will be fine,” I said, “Lena knows this place inside out now and they both know how to use a gun if necessary.” “I don’t know, maybe Calanthe’s idea to sell the chateau to Baldwin and let him handle these people, isn’t such a bad idea.” “Hey, we still have to find that treasure after all this is over,” I said. “And you keep saying there is no treasure.” “Well…maybe there is,” I said slowly, “the problem is not many people like to read, but I do, and that big library has a wealth of information in it, including the possible location of that treasure.” “Hmm, sounds like fun.” “And when I sell this place to Baldwin, I want those books,” I said. “Do you think he’ll agree to that?” “Probably not, but I can try,” I said. Yes indeed, I can try…as I drift off to sleep…
To Be Continued.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Wow, this is so good! 👏👏 Lena is helping…I did not see that coming! What’s next? 😳. I cannot wait for the next chapter! 😁
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Yep, I got Lena in there again,😁👩 since she was at the beginning of all this, and she’s been a good helper. What’s next?🤔 Hmm, good question, I have to figure that out!😂😹😹
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Yes, that is great. Yes, she has been. 😁
Hmmmm. 🤔
😂 It will be amazing when you do! 😁
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I hope so, this is always the hard part!😂😹
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I can imagine. 🤔😂. It will be fine, we will appreciate whatever comes next. 😁
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That’s good, I’ll get it figured out.😁 I think.😳
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Yes, you will. 😁😂
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😃✍
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😁🌙
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No fair!🤨 you didn’t say anything about Lena earlier!🤨 how am I supposed to gues st the ending when she just pop’s up outa nowhere?🙄🙄🙄😏😏
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Actually Lena was there at the very beginning of all this, that is the previous case and this is just a continuation of sorts from that.🤯 I have to keep some secrets after all to keep people guessing! But you missed something again.🙄🙄🙀🙀🕵️♂️👩
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Just one??🤔🤔🤫🤫🤫😉
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Yep, one detail, yet it is the second. And also very important. Or maybe not. Just depends.🤔🙄
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Can I wait for the movie?😁😊 I’ll need to re-read the last chapter again 🤔🙄
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Actually it’s chapter 10 you need for the first, since this is the second, but what is it? Or who is it? Or is it anyone? Maybe I’m just going crazy and need a vacation? Good idea, next case is “The Missing Nap”!😂😹😹
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LOL 😂😆🤣 A vacation is always a good idea 💡
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After our last vacation it might be hard to convince Muffin and Mr. Cat.😳😾😾
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Was it really a vacation?? Seems like you worked most of it!😁
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Well, it was supposed to be a vacation.😳🙄
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Then you should go to a warm sunny island somewhere on the equator, preferably with only a nice place to stay and bonded wait staff with full background checks and armed guards! Then! You and the cats could have a nice restful fun vacation!😎🏊♀️🏝🏕🏖
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I think our only hope would be a deserted island and even then we would probably have to watch the wayward coconuts.😳😬🙀🙀
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I agree! Those nuts can be a real threat!🤭🤭
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Especially for the other nuts.
Meow,meow!!=Nuts!! Time for chomp chomp!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hehehe🤭🤭🤭🤭 how’s the feet Steve?😂😂
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I’m running out of bandages again.😳🙄
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Ohhhh… that’s bad!! Maybe you should make some leather socks to wear!?😁
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Wouldn’t help, there’s always legs, arms, hands. Sigh.🙄
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You need to be more careful of your words 🙄🙄
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That’s one way to put it.😬😾😾
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Hehehe🤭🤭🤭🤭
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🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Now how do I respond to that?🥴
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I would say that’s true.🤔😛😛
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Touche’
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I didn’t know you knew French.
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I do?? 😳😲 I I mean yes!! I do! Well kinda🙄 well maybe one word🙄🤔 I messed up the word we last week😒 but I try!😁😁😊
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Actually “we last week” is 3 words. But as they say in the old country, “if you can’t count don’t climb trees”.
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OMG 😲 No wonder I spelled it wrong! I thought we was one word! French is a lot harder than I thought!😳😲😔
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No, no, it’s three letters, you know, like IOU only backwards, with the letters mixed up a bit.🙄
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I owe you?? That’s english!!😛😛
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Brilliant, what gave it away?😛😛😛😛
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Actually the spelling!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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What’s the other?😏🤭
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That’s right.😛😛
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Uh oh.. I’m in trouble😬😬😳😳
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That would depend on the numerical factors involved which in this case would be 4.2 times 10, 555 and divided by 40, then taking the square root of said number and adding 5 giving a probability of trouble within 15% 21 times out of 20.
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Yikes! Better odds with a lottery ticket!!😬😲😳
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As they say in the old country, “win a few, lose a lot.”
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That’s my recipe’ !!😂😂
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Are you trying to steal my “old country” jokes?🤨🤨🤨
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Oh no… I’m not near old enough to use your old country jokes!!🤭🤭🤭
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That’s better. Glad that’s settled in your favor.
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Me too!🤣🤣🤣
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😛😛😛😛😛
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Ha and Ha!😂😂
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How can I redeem myself?🙄🙄😔
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I forgot what we were talking about.😒
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Whew… that was close! I forgot too🙄🙄🤭🤭
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Oh, what did you forget?🤔🙄
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I don’t know🤔🤔 I am hoping you could tell me!🤪🤪
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How can I tell you something when I don’t know what I’m talking about?
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I see the issue.. I wish more people would realize that!😂😂😂😂 I certain it wasn’t important!
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Maybe it wasn’t anything, we just think there was something.🤔😛😛😛😛
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Yep! I think you’re exactly right!
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It’s amazing how many things the reader cannot know. What a surprise that Lena is helping. You were talking to someone at night. How many other things are there that we are not privy to? Can’t be to careful, never know who is reading this story! 😛 Watch your step!
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Yes, sometimes it’s necessary to omit some details so the story doesn’t get too long. Hmm, was I talking to someone?🤔 Or was I just talking to myself?🙄 Guess we will have to wait and see. This is now the second time I have talked to myself. Or someone else. But who else could there be? There is a vague hint in the previous chapter.🤔 Have a great day!😁
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Steve, enjoy your day! Your stories do keep me interested and trying to figure things out. ✍🏻 😃
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That’s good to hear! Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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Well, so Lena is back in the picture…hmmm…and Calanthe is Cynthia…still something is not right…the cats are VERY alert…waiting , waiting to see what is next…☕️☕️🕵️♂️👩😼😼🤔
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Yep, my helper is back. Yes, there is more to come. But everyone is missing a detail,🤔 except one person. Yes, the cats are watching, they know what’s going on, well, as much as I do, which isn’t a lot really.😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️👩
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You mean Rossana ? 🤔👩
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It’s always possible, but you still missed something.
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Lydia wants to open her own art gallery…if there is no gold what about the vast library which probably has very rare books in it which could be worth millions ! …hmmm…Lydia also said that she is an only child….hmmm…🤔🤭😮🙄
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Wow, that’s going right back to the beginning. But Lydia already had her gallery up and running from the gold she got. That’s true, there could be some good books in there for sure.🤔😾😾🕵️♂️👩
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I was looking for Lena I was sure she would turn up eventually.
Laugh Until It annoys someone. They’ll thank you
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Yep, just hiding in the woodwork, quite literally!
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Oops what a Twist 🙄😳🧐 Surprise !! Lena 🤨 when did she came… intriguing case for sure.. and…. I want those books too 😍😍😍
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I would love to get a bunch of books like that, wow, that would be so fantastic!😄😄 Yes, another twist and how many more twists to come before….🤔😾😾🕵️♂️
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Who are you talking with? Is not Lena, then?…Hmmm 🤔 I guess I’m missing something 🧐
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Well, it’s possible I could be talking with myself.😁🙀🙀 Or perhaps I’m talking with someone we haven’t met yet?🤔😳
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